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Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Birth: 25
November 1918, Syracuse, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty while serving as platoon sergeant of Company A, 4th Tank Battalion,
4th Marine Division, during the battle for enemy Japanese-held Saipan,
Marianas Islands, on 16 June 1944. Cut off from the other units of his
platoon when his tank was put out of action by a battery of enemy 77mm.
guns, G/Sgt. McCard carried on resolutely, bringing all the tank's weapons
to bear on the enemy, until the severity of hostile fire caused him to
order his crew out of the escape hatch while he courageously exposed himself
to enemy guns by hurling hand grenades, in order to cover the evacuation
of his men. Seriously wounded during this action and with his supply of
grenades exhausted, G/Sgt. McCard then dismantled one of the tank's machineguns
and faced the Japanese for the second time to deliver vigorous fire into
their positions, destroying 16 of the enemy but sacrificing himself to
insure the safety of his crew. His valiant fighting spirit and supreme
loyalty in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit
upon G/Sgt. McCard and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life
for his country.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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